Mothers’ Awareness and Level of Knowledge on Skilled Delivery and Its Utilization in Yendi Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Skilled delivery is one of the services rendered as part of safe motherhood campaign to prevent maternal and infant deaths. Majority of pregnant women in the Yendi Municipality received antenatal care, but a substantial number do not receive skilled delivery services. The main objective of the study was to find out the awareness and level of knowledge of mothers' on skilled delivery and its utilization in the Yendi Municipality.Methods: The research was a descriptive cross-sectional survey study among 450 respondents who were selected through the simple random sampling technique in thirty (30) communities to form the sample for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 04/7/2016 – 18/7/2016 for the study. SPSS software package version 21 was used to analyze the data. Chi-square test and Cross-tabulation were the main statistical processes used in analyzing the relationships between the study variables. Results: Majority (87%) of respondents was aware of the importance of skilled delivery and 69% was also aware of risks associated with home delivery. Most of the respondents (72%) also had confidence in skilled attendants. Findings showed statistically significance between respondents' parity and importance of skilled delivery (P=0.005). However, more than half of the respondents (51%) were assisted by TBAs to deliver while 46% of the respondents indicated that they gave birth in the health facility. Most (53.1%) respondents also said they fear caesarean section. Conclusion: Skilled delivery status (46%) is lower than the WHO 90% target set since 2004 while TBAs assisted delivery (51%) is rather high. Thus urgent and appropriate training should be organized for TBAs to sharpen their skills on safe delivery practices in their various communities.